Napoli coach Antonio Conte remains satisfied with his team’s performance in the recent 1-1 draw against Serie A leaders Inter Milan. However, he emphasizes his mentality that draws feel like ‘half-defeats’ for a team like Napoli. Conte also shared his thoughts on the upcoming challenging match against Fiorentina.
Napoli currently sits in second place in Serie A, just one point behind Inter after their draw last weekend.
Napoli’s form in February was inconsistent, with three draws and one loss before the Inter game.
Conte on Napoli vs. Inter Draw
Despite Napoli showing improvement against Inter, Conte stated that his team’s approach remains consistent. He believes in continuous hard work and ambition.
“We continue to train with the same desire, nothing changes based on words. We focus on actions. We always strive to give our best,” Conte mentioned in a press conference.
“Ambition comes from hard work. Playing well against Inter, a top team, was positive. Although both were draws, the games were very different.”
Conte further elaborated on his view of draws, considering them as ‘half-defeats’.
“My goal is always for our fans to be proud. Performing well against Inter is good, even if it was a draw. For those who aim to win, a draw is slightly disappointing, even against a strong team like Inter.”
“For me, a draw is always a half-defeat. We aim for three points every game. We’ve often succeeded, but sometimes we struggle, which is normal in a season. We need to work, recover, and make good decisions. There are no worries, anxieties, or problems.”
Conte’s View on Fiorentina Match
Conte then discussed their next opponent, Fiorentina, highlighting the challenge they pose.
“Fiorentina is strong, they strengthened in January. They recently defeated Inter 3-0 and lost 2-1 away. They will be tough opponents. We must be prepared for a difficult game.”
“We need to give our all on the field, utilizing our squad and tactics to overcome any obstacles.”